New Caledonia mourned by four fatal accidents which occurred from one end of the mainland to the other, between Friday evening and the night of Saturday to Sunday. They left five people dead, including a child, and at least one seriously injured. Faced with this massacre, the worst of the year, the authorities point not to the weather conditions, but above all to the consumption of alcohol, the speed or dangerous behavior.
The litany is chilling. This weekend, in twenty-seven hours, five people lost their lives in a traffic accident on the mainland.
- A 48-year-old motorist died after losing control of his vehicle on a straight line and hitting a tree in Sarraméa, Friday December 20, around 8:30 p.m.
- A pedestrian aged around 30 was found dead in Dumbéa, at the edge of the expressway, Saturday December 21, around 2 a.m., following what closely resembles a collision followed by a hit-and-run .
- A little girl aged four to five years old was thrown through the passenger compartment when the vehicle carrying her family spun while taking a turn on the wet road in Poya, also on Saturday, around 7 p.m. The child did not survive.
- A driver and his front passenger, both aged around 20, were killed when they left the road just before a Pouébo bridge, again on Saturday, around 11 p.m. Another passenger, aged 24, was evacuated in serious condition.
“It’s a tragic weekend”summarizes General Nicolas Mattheos, interviewed by NC the 1st. The commander of the gendarmerie in New Caledonia confirms that this is the “heaviest toll since the start of the year. Even though we have noted an increase in road insecurity, a worsening of the situation, in recent weeks. But this weekend is particularly tragic, with deaths all over the territory, including many young people.”
The accidents occurred after successive rains and storms for several days. “Yes, but above all I would like to remind you that an accident is never inevitableputs the boss of the gendarmes into perspective. If weather conditions can possibly worsen the consequences of an accident, this is above all, at least as far as this weekend is concerned, the result of human error, carelessness or negligence. driving while under the influence of alcohol.”
Many accidents are probably alcohol-related. Others, at excessive speeds or failures to follow basic safety rules.
General Matthéos, commander of the gendarmerie
Since the start of 2024, road accidents have caused thirty deaths. “Considering accident statisticsrecalls the public prosecutor, the mortality rate in New Caledonia is five times higher than that of mainland France, four times higher than that of Australia, twice higher than that of French Polynesia.”
And Yves Dupas adds, in a press release released this Sunday noon: “The main causes are well known and identified. Driving under the influence of alcohol or after using narcotics, excessive or inappropriate speed, failure to wear a seat belt, refusal of priority…”
This tragic toll on the region's roads during the weekend (which is not over) and as the holidays approach must imperatively lead everyone to greater responsibility and good citizenship. The drivers, but also those around them in families, tribes and friends.
Yves Dupas, public prosecutor
The prosecution also recalls that “reinforced control operations will be implemented by the internal security forces”. General Matthéos confirms: “We are on all fronts at the end of the year. Firstly there is the maintenance of public order, and then the fight against road insecurity which requires us to be present on the ground, which requires that we detect and repress with the greatest severity accident-causing behavior Here, clearly, the behavior that creates fatal road accidents is alcohol consumption.”
Alcohol which plays a role in two thirds of cases. Cannabis use occurs in one out of every two cases. Inappropriate speed is observed in 81% of fatal accidents. And the absence of a belt, almost two times out of three.
